The 2023 Southeast Alaska State Fair had a packed program this year with artists from Alaska to San Fransisco to Iowa and competitions from disc golf to to songwriting to quilting.
But as much as the events, the Southeast fair is about the people who attend it. Here is a small selection of some interesting, thought-provoking, and noteworthy people of the fair, interviewed and photographed by CVN staff.
Natalie Weinberg – Redefining female beauty
Natalie Weinberg is okay with people being disgusted when they walk by her booth. The Juneau artist paints nude female figures that celebrate sensuous lines around thick thighs and big bodies melting into rivers, flowers and clouds. She came to the style after dealing with her own body image issues that led to a mental health crisis while living in her home state of Florida. She said at the Haines fair, a father pulled his children away from her booth after they wandered in, apparently put off by the paintings. “I don’t think he would have done it if he had been a Victoria’s Secret billboard,” she said. “I think the people with the most disgusted reactions are the people that need to see it the most.” On the other hand, she sees plenty of people with the opposite reaction. “This woman came to me and was like ‘Your art is so beautiful. (The painting) looks like me. Oh my god – that means I’m beautiful.’ And then she started crying. That’s a really beautiful thing to hear.”
Roman Hart & Isaak Henson – Putting love of music over stable home
Roman Hart of Ames, Iowa and Isaak Henson of Bellingham, Wash. took different routes to becoming full-time traveling musicians. Hart was working a steady job as an electrician, living in his own home making good money when his girlfriend dumped him. Next thing he knew, he was hitchhiking to a concert at Red Rocks. He wanted more. “It was so much fun and enlightening. I was a pretty pessimistic kid.” He taught himself guitar, and developed a deep gravelly voice that he attributes to “whiskey and cigarettes.” Isaak Henson, meanwhile, knew he wanted to be a musician from a young age, but first he had to escape a troubled home life. He started running away as a 12-year-old. As soon as he could, he moved to Seattle, where he got roped into the traveling music scene. The group, along with a bass player, have been traveling along the ferry system, playing on sidewalks for tips, and sleeping under trees or in parks. They usually hitchhike, but when nobody picks them up, they might have to walk 20 miles carrying backpacks and dog food. Both say they could be working steady jobs, but chose the minimalism and romance of life on the road. Still it’s not always glamorous. Henson said people often mistake his tattered clothes for a “costume” and stereotype him. “I deal with the repercussions of social taboos, of indifference, intolerance.People are afraid or they are so sure I’m a drug addict or that I’m a terrible person and that’s why I wound up homeless.” The group played an impromptu show at the state fair and competed in the talent show.
Jonny Antoni – Sustainability through kelp
For Jonny Antoni, kelp is a lot more than a business: it’s a commitment to sustainable, local food systems, a way to connect with customers, and it’s just cool. “Kelp is just a magic plant. There’s so much you can do with it.” Two years ago, Antoni and business partner leased a 10-acre plot in the ocean near Juneau. He talked to whoever he could, and next thing he knew he was harvesting the translucent dirty green strands growing off of lines anchored to the ocean floor. Next was coming up with recipes for his nascent food truck: Sea Quester Kelp Burgers. The stand was at the fair selling two burgers: a salmon patty made with coho salmon, kelp, and coconut aminos, and a vegan beet and kelp burger. “The kelp adds such an awesome flavor of umami to everything.” Running the food truck is taking him away from his main job as a commercial fisherman, but he said it’s worth it for the connections he makes with customers. “People like what I’m doing, so it feeds my soul a little bit.”
Andy Koch – Making clowns funny again
Bonzo the Clown is someone who has great difficulty accomplishing the most simple tasks, whether that’s making sure his big red nose does not fall off, or keeping his hat straight. In a world where adults seem to be able to do everything with ease, Bonzo is someone that kids can really relate to. Andy Koch started clowning in 1981. “I found that when you dress like a clown, it sorts out the happy people from the unhappy people immediately. They either think it’s great or they don’t, you don’t have to waste time trying to figure out who’s a nice person.” At the fair, he was busy teaching kids how to make balloon animals, and was giving away clown noses and bubbles for them to take home. “The world needs more humor and more fun, and clowning is a great way to do that. I love the way it spreads joy with people.” Unfortunately, with the release of clown-related horror films like “It,” clown reputations are at an all-time low. “I’m on a mission to make clowns funny again.” Koch, who lives in Bellingham, Wash., has been coming to the fair since 2008, and was originally invited to do puppet shows. When he is not a clown or puppeteer, Koch is a blues musician. He played a set with his band the Badd Dog Blues Society Saturday at the Park Stage.
Cosmo Fudge – Reigning log-rolling champion
As one after another contestant for the log-rolling competition fell into the pool, Cosmo Fudge stayed completely dry, skipping across the log after each round to get back to even land. “The technique is to not try to knock the other guy in and try to stay on the log. I would imagine it’s kind of like bull riding.” Fudge has been a resident in Haines for 10 years, and this is the fifth time he has participated in the state fair. It is also the fifth time he’s been crowned the champion of log rolling. This year he also placed second in obstacle bucking and third in the choker-setting and hook tender relay. “I used to tow log rafts for Boyer Towing back in the day, so I have some experience doing that kind of stuff.” Saturday was the first and only day he was able to make it to the fair, because he and his wife welcomed a baby just over a month ago. “I love it. I love the weather, I love all the people and music. I’m so glad that it’s in our backyard.”
Lucy Nieboer – Barbie at work
This year, Lucy Nieboer dressed up as Barbie for the fair. Last year she chose an underwater, mermaid theme, and for her first fair she opted for a fairy/ floral theme. “The fair is like Halloween because you can wear whatever you want and no one will think you’re nuts.” For Lucy, having a common theme throughout the fair is grounding and ties everything together. It’s also a good ice breaker and a way to connect with people. “They might say ‘You were the girl with the flower dresses’ or ‘Oh, you’re Barbie.'” She chose Barbie because Haines residents don’t always get to experience things that are pop-culture related. She saw others on social media dressing up to go to the movie premiere and wanted to participate in the fun somehow. Nieboer also volunteered every day for the fair, mostly working in the wine garden. “The fair would not happen without volunteers. It’s a nice time in the community where everyone comes together to celebrate joy.”